Sterling Marlin says he has had calls from other teams but can't drive for any team until he gets issues resolved with former employer Ginn Racing. 

"A couple of guys called, but I can't do nothing.  Part of your contract, if you drive somebody else's car, you null and void your contract.  So I'll sit and wait here and see what the lawyers say."

Marlin said the team still owes him money, and while he won't like to sit around and wait, he will.

"I haven't talked to Bobby [Ginn]. [They] haven't returned calls to my lawyers," Marlin said. "They're kind of just leaving me hanging. ... I'd like to get something worked out and at least finish the year out with somebody if I could." 

"There was a lot of stress and a lot of hard work," Marlin said.  "I'm really proud of all of the guys that worked on the team.  We ran the gauntlet there for seven races - we had to make it [on speed] the last two races [last year]. 

"We made them, and a lot of guys can't say that.  A lot of teams with good drivers and the money and didn't do it.  We were the only ones to do it, and it's all for naught now.  It's like being kicked in the groin."

http://ginnracing.com/photo_view.cfm?imageid=
2639

more...

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/2007/07/23/
scene_daily19.html

Another In The Tradition of Newsgroups Post:

Sterling is a little bit perturbed I'd say.  He is smart enough to leave getting paid up to his attorneys though.  And he is smart enough to not risk compromising the contract he has by driving another car too soon.  He ain't no dummy.  He didn't just fall off of the turnip truck yesterday.

What do you think?

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 22, 2007) -- Ginn Racing announced today that Panasonic Broadcast will be a primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin's No. 14 Chevrolet for 12 races during the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.

Woohoo!  That's real money for one third of the season folks. 

The agreement also calls for Panasonic to be a major associate sponsor on the No. 14 for the other 24 point races that will comprise the 36-event Nextel Cup schedule.

That means we may be doing alright.  

Panasonic joins Waste Management as a 12-race primary sponsor on Marlin's Chevrolet.

WM has committed to 12 races too?  This just gets better as I read along.  This is a better commitment than we had this time last year.  Things are looking up.

Woohoo!  The No. 14  Waste Management Panasonic Ginn Clubs and Resorts Chevrolet.  That took awhile to get out.  Not as bad as Indy cars though.  But I'm still thinkin' we probably only have Ginn Clubs committed for about six races and could use one more secondary sponsor to fill out our dance card.

"To finalize a sponsorship package is always an accomplishment, but to finalize it with an outstanding and high-profiled company such as Panasonic makes it even better," said team owner Bobby Ginn.  "As part of the Ginn Racing commitment, we not only want to lead on the track, but we also want to be a leader with our sponsors and make sure they are getting a valuable return on their investment.  We look forward to our new partnership with Panasonic and welcome them to the Ginn family of sponsors."   "We are thrilled to be associated with the Ginn organization and with Ginn Racing in particular.  Like Panasonic, they place great value in quality," said John Baisley, president of Panasonic Broadcast.

"Marlin, a two-time Daytona 500 winner and a veteran of more than 700 career Cup starts, is in his second season with Ginn Racing. He is only one of three drivers to have scored back-to-back Daytona 500 victories (1994 & 1995).  The other two were Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.  Marlin has 10 career Cup wins, 215 top 10s and prize money of more than $40 million.  "It's always a great feeling to have a new sponsor come on board," said Marlin, a native of Franklin, TN.  "And when it's a first-class company such as Panasonic it adds to the excitement.

Marlin's No. 14 Chevrolet is one of three full-time Nextel Cup cars that Ginn Racing will field in 2007.  The other two are: the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet to be co-driven by Mark Martin and Regan Smith and the No. 13 Chevrolet, driven by Joe Nemechek.

You gotta love the 13.  I never won a damn thing until I put a 13 on my back in baseball in high school.  Made a couple of allstar rosters then.  And I owe that all to Jerry Royster.  Yes, Jerry Royster, Atlanta Braves, third base, back in the losing years.

http://sterlingmarlinfanclub.com/?p=news&i
d=514

Come along if you dare.  Sterling Marlin fans are cut from a different cloth.  We are "racers."

It's easy to be a fan of Dale Earnhardt Junior, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmy Johnson or  Kasey Kahne.  These are probably the top five most popular Nextel Cup Drivers.  I'm not here to argue that. But how hard is it to follow these guys knowing they will run up front?

No, "racers" follow their guy even if he struggles.  When they win, it is so much sweeter.

Sterling Marlin fans waited for over 200 Winston Cup starts for Sterling's first win.  We are not about to give up on him now.  Not yet.  But this year will be tough.  No doubt about it.

So, if you want to learn more about Nextel Cup racing, what it's really about for many teams, join me on this journey.  I guarantee I will be reporting from a different angle from all of the main Nextel Cup sources.  If you follow someone who wasn't even close to making The Chase last year, then you especially might enjoy the ride.  Come along if you dare.

Do We Have Sponsorship?

Sterling Marlin fan rhendryx has been in Daytona.  He is helping Marlin fans with the do we have sponsorship issue.  Marlin fans know, that Sterling has full sponsorship even if it winds up being Ginn Clubs, owned by Ginn Racing owner Bobby Ginn.

We also know that sponsorship means more money.  We know it takes lot's of money.  We know our odds are better if we have lot's of money.  We are hoping to start with that Waste Management will be a primary sponsor this year.

Clue 1:  Waste Management is the same size as Ginn Clubs on Sterling's trailer.

Question 1:  Will the sponsorship be 50 - 50?

Clue 2:  This car was used for testing in Daytona.

Clue 3: From sterlingmarlinfans.com Sharon in Columbia TN, Crew Chief, Joined: 24 Feb 2005, Posts: 3841, Location: STERLIN MARLIN COUNTRY, Tue Jan 09, 2007, 11:01 pm

I'm guessing that the "14" is the backup from Talladega. Notice the unscathed '06 paint scheme.

Clue 4:  rhendryx,  Fabricator,

Age: 52, Joined: 26 Feb 2005,  Posts: 493,  Location: Cigar City,

I think your guess is right on, Miss Sharon.  The 14 used the name plate "Monte Carlo".  This year Chevy's will be "Impala's".  I think you are 100% correct that the 14 is last years superspeedway car.

Question 2:  Does this indicate that WM is not a primary sponsor?

Clue 5:  This car shows no indication of sponsors.

Clue 6:  Sharon in Columbia TN,  The "14x" is probably the primary car from Talladega that has been re-skinned and straightened or a new car they have built.

Clue 7:  rhendryx, Hard to say for sure what the 14x is.

Clue 8:  Sterling is wearing a Ginn Clubs uniform.

Question 3?  Does this indicate Waste management is not a Primary sponsor?

Conclusions:  The truck makes me think 50 - 50 Waste Management and Ginn.  But just like last year, there is plenty of room on the truck to add other sponsors or enlarge the logo's of existing ones.  So it likely indicates maybe 33% of the sponsorship is committed here between the two sponsors giving each of them 17%.

I am saying that we can expect to see WM on for at least 6 races.  Last year they committed to 12 earlier on.  It looks like to me they have committed to less than that this year.  Can't say I blame them.  Our production last year for their dollar was next to nil.

The WM paint scheme is likely last year's Talladega back up body, not necessarily "car."  It's likely that we are testing one of the restrictor plate chassis that we used at Daytona and/or Talladega last year.  To me it does not indicate sponsorship since it is last year's scheme.  However, it is definitely a tease to WM hoping they will get good feedback from it and offer us more sponsorship.

The 14x is probably a new car.  It looks to be ready to put any logo on it that anyone that wants their name on our Daytona car can buy from us.  We tested well.  Anyone out there want to help us?

Sterling is probably just wearing the Ginn suit because it is last year's suit and we know Ginn will sponsor us if needed.  You can't give WM too much for free.  Or they will not pay more for more pub.

So if you are a Marlin fan or any other interested party and care to comment, what do you think?

If your not an interested party, see what we have to put up with?   It's not what most Nextel cup fans are talking about is it?  Nope?  Jr. will be in the red 8, Tony in the orange 20, Jeff in the Blue 24, Kasey in the red 9 and Jimmy in the blue 48.  You know their sponsors as well as I do.

Nothing has officially been said regarding who will be the primary sposor for Sterling Marlin this season.  Some fans feel the primary sponsor will obviously be Ginn Clubs and Resorts.  Bobby Ginn owns Ginn Clubs and Resorts as well as Ginn Racing, who Sterling drives for.

Other fans are excited about a paint scheme that is being shown as an advertisement for the Action die-cast that is being planned thinking this indicates primary sponsorship by Waste Management.  Sterling practiced in Daytona with a WM scheme as well which is promising.  Still, fans are awaiting official word.